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David Epstein's book "Range" offers a different view of expert performance -- that it doesn't work very well in domains with ambiguity (such as a hidden state), or when a variety of skills are required.

In other words, expert performance applies to piano and chess very well, but a diversity of backgrounds is more important for things like management or R&D more broadly.

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NOTE: Most of my comments on HN are about "practice", so feel free to just read them.

I'd be curious what qualifies as "ambiguity" and "diversity of background" however. Is that simply a collection of smaller expertises that you can pull from? Many domains have a degree of ambiguity to them - how do you create a musical masterpiece? how do you beat your chess opponent? Knowing "the moves" only ensures you can implement a plan.

It seems to me possible to improve at the skill of discovery - but I'm not sure how, and perseverance, creativity and luck swamp everything else. Those aren't skills.

Ah, but "chance favors the prepared mind", so it IS possible to improve your luck.

But is it a "skill"?

It is better called "ability". And "luck" is better called "recognizing an opportunity".

If you're unable to utilize an opportunity, which takes skill, or are unable to recognize an opportunity, which also takes skill, you're out of luck.

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